Ski rescue sled lift device



April 30, 1968 I P. o. SAVAGE 3,330,084

SKI RESCUE SLED LIFT DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1966 2 INVENTOR.

PHILLIP D. SAVAGE United States Patent Oflice 3,380,084 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 3,380,084 SKI RESCUE SLED LIFT DEVICE Phillip D. Savage, Malone, N.Y., assignor to Hall Ski- Lift Company, Inc., Watertown, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 595,720 3 Claims. (Cl. 5-81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to ski-lifts and more particularly to a frame for supporting a rescue sled and which may be quickly secured to the seat of a lift chair and as quickly removed.

Ski patrols are usually equipped with a sled or toboggan on which injured skiers may be transported from the scene of an accident to the bottom of the hill. Where there is a ski lift, the quickest way to reach the scene is to strap the sled in the seat of the lift and transport it to the unloading ramp where it is unloaded and slid down to the injured skier. Loading and unloading the sled from the lift takes time and the lift must be stopped while this is done resulting in interruption of the activities of the other skiers.

The present invention comprises means for suspending the sled from a lift chair, which means may be quickly secured to the chair so that the sled may be loaded on and unloaded from the chair without stopping the lift.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide means by which a single man may suspend a sled from a lift chair, occupy the same chair and then unload the sled at the unloading ramp, all without interrupting the operation of the lift.

Another important object is to provide a frame from which the sled may be suspended and which may be quickly secured to and removed from a lift chair by a single operator without stopping the lift.

A further object is to provide such a frame which may be quickly attached to and removed from the sled.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, side elevational view of a lift chair and a sled provided with a lift fname according to the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the lift frame thereof as viewed from one side and the front.

In FIGURE 1 the lift frame is shown secured to a 'toboggan or sled 11 and in front of a lift chair 12 preparatory to lifting the frame onto the chair as indicated by the [arrow 13. The sled 11 is provided on each side with a pair of loops or eyes 14 to which the frame 10 may be secured. The eyes on each side are spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the center of balance of the loaded sled.

In FIGURE 2, the frame 10 comprises a rigid unitary framework of steel tubing having left and right leg portions or suspension legs 15, '15, from which the sled is adapted to be suspended, and left and right lift legs 16, 16, adapted to rest on the seat of the lift. The suspension legs 15 are joined at their rearward ends by a cross member 17 and the lift legs are joined at their rearward ends by a cross member 18. The front ends of the lift legs are joined to the respective front ends of the suspension legs by vertically disposed members 19. Legs 15, 16, and members 17, 18 and 19 are preferably formed of a single length of steel tubing bent and welded at its end to form a continuous unit.

A U-shaped member is welded across between the lift legs 16 to form a hand-grip 20, the central hand-grip portion of which is offset above the plane of legs 16. The hand grip member 20 is disposed above the suspension legs 15 about midway of their lengths so that the hand-grip is directly above the center of gravity of the loaded sled when the frame 10 is attached thereto.

Along the lift legs 16, cross member 12, and vertical connecting members 19 are secured a plurality of tubular pads 21 of soft material, preferably rubber or leather, by screws 22 or other fastening means, as shown.

The seat portion 25 of the chair 12 is conventionally curved and slopes downward, as shown, from front to rear when the chair is at rest. The lift legs 16 of frame 10 are similarly curved and similarly disposed with respect to the horizontally disposed suspension legs 15, as best seen in FIGURE 1.

The suspension legs 15 each have a pair of pendant metal tabs 26 welded thereto at points equidistant from the midpoint of the legs. In an appropriate hole in each tab 26, the terminal loop of an extension spring 27 is secured. The terminal loop of the other end of each spring 27 is secured to a snap hook fastener 28 for quick attachment to an eye 14 on sled 11.

In operation, the sled 11 is conventionally loaded with blankets, first-aid supplies, t-ow ropes or bars, etc., all stowed and lashed down so that the center of gravity of the loaded sled is approximately midway between the forward and rearward eyes 14 on each side of the sled. Fasteners 28 are then attached to the eyes 14 and the ski patrol operator stands alongside the frame 10 and lifts the frame and sled by the grip member 20.

Standing in the path of an approaching chair 12 on the lift, the operator holds frame 10 in front of the chair so that its seat 25 moves forward under legs 16. The operator can then release the grip member 20 and seat himself alongside legs 16 on the seat 25 to be transported up the hill.

Lift legs 16 conform to the front to rear shape of seat 25, preventing any slipping from the seat. Pads 21 which are placed to prevent legs 16, cross-member 18, or vertical members 19 from coming in direct contact with the seat, prevent scarring of the seat and help to hold the legs 16 on the seat.

The suspension legs 15 are disposed below legs 16 so as to be horizontal when the lift chair is at rest and straddle the load on the sled. Springs 27 ensure that the weight of the sled holds legs 16 in continuous contact with seat 25 despite my up and down movement of the lift chair.

At the unloading ramp the operator again grasps the grip member 20, lifts frame 10 and load, and skies out from in front of chair 12 in the usual manner. The fasteners 28 are then disengaged from eyes 14 and the sled prepared for use in the usual manner.

As will be apparent .to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed therefore is to be considered in all respects as illustrative, rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension frame for removably securing a ski rescue sled to a lift chair which has a downwardly from front to rear inclined seat comprising a unitary rigid framework having left and right spaced suspension legs each adapted to be secured to respective sides of a sled at points to the front and rear of the center of gravity of the sled, left and right spaced lift legs above the suspension legs adapted to be placed front to rear on the chair seat, the lift legs being connected to the suspension legs at their forward ends and inclined downward from front to rear with respect to the suspension legs so that the suspension legs are adapted to extend horizontally when the lift legs are placed on the seat of a lift chair, and cross members connecting left and right lift legs and left and right suspension legs, a lift legs cross member having a hand-grip member adapted to be substantially over the center of gravity of an attached sled, whereby the framework and attached sled is secured to the seat until lifted off.

2. The suspension frame defined in claim 1 characterized by the framework being of metal tubing, the lift legs having pads of soft material secured thereto for preventing scarring of the lift chair seat, :and the suspension legs having a plurality of pendant connecting means for attachment to the sled including spring means for keeping the lift legs in constant contact with the lift chair seat when the sled is lift-borne.

3. The suspension frame defined in claim 1 characterized by the suspension legs being connected by a cross member at their rearward ends, the lift legs being connected by a cross member at their rearward ends, and by the hand-grip member being offset above the lift legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,199 1/1955 Huntington 2972l7 X 2,770,465 ll/ 1956 Dandurand 5-8=2 X 3,136,522 6/ 1964 Calderone 248-3l8 3,288,417 11/1966 Wallace 2483 17 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

